You are stronger than you know and the strength you need is within you. Do you believe that? When I get frustrated, feel inadequate, unsupported, feel like quitting … sometimes just feeling sorry for myself, I try to remind myself of this quote by Charles Bukowski.

I’m not saying that at times we don’t need friends or even help, surely we do. Life can be overwhelming. I’m just saying that, more often than not, we sell ourselves short. We’re far stronger and more capable than we give ourselves credit for. Frankly, I doubt thought most of us have any idea how strong we really are. Don’t give in, find out!

She plays me
gently, tenderly,
yet masterfully
as one would
a priceless violin
her fingers,
soft and supple,
caress fragile heartstrings
and her bow
with perfect touch
and time
miraculously make
a magnificent melody
in spite
of broken strings left
by the less gifted
or less caring before her
playing me as I am
yet finding the notes,
in sequences
and combinations,
that bring forth music
in the timbre of my soul

This poem was inspired by a particularly slow and tedious day. I was far more than bored and blue, I suffered from full-blown ennui. It’s a word I rarely use but was most apropos, I think. As you read, you will notice a tip of the hat to William Shakespeare toward the end, a quote I think fit in with the flow quite well. Thanks for reading. As always, your comments are most appreciated!

In the Land of Ennui

The sun rises
on another day
just one more
in an endless sequence
that hold nothing
but onerous seconds
followed by more
onerous seconds
making mundane minutes
and the minutes, irksome hours
laden with fatigue
marked only
by heavy sighs
and rolling eyes
holding no interest,
challenge or danger
only an unsated desire
for some flame of fire,
a spark of hope,
a break in the tedium
waited for
but not coming
and after waiting interminably,
suddenly,
the sun dips low
and shadows grow
the day succumbs
and what dreams may come,
will be my salvation,
in the land of Ennui

April is National Poetry Month in the US. It is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives. If you don’t happen to live in the US, it doesn’t matter. You can celebrate poetry wherever you are. Poetry is a universal thing that knows no national boundaries!

The beautiful view that greeted me at the Lookout above Lake Elsinore today. This is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image taken with a Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens. Click on the image to view a larger version in my FAA gallery.

If you haven’t noticed, the traditional photo albums that have been on my blog for some time have been removed and replaced by something new! I’ve integrated a new widget from Fine Art America into the blog. Now you can view the much larger catalog of photographs and digital art that I keep on the Fine Art America site.

Not only can you view them but should you see something you like, you can purchase it right here on my blog. The FAA widget will allow you to do just that! What’s more exciting, you can buy not only prints but posters, framed prints, matted prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, greeting cards and more! If you see something you like, just click on the image for more information on purchasing. I’ve bought several items from artists I admire on FAA and without fail they were only of the highest quality!

To check it out, just click on the “Fine Art America Gallery” menu item. I think this is an exciting new development and a great way to integrate my love of photography into my blog. I hope you’ll enjoy my photographs and digital art. As always, your comments, suggestions and criticism are most welcome. Thanks for reading!

Through the blinds, beams of light
slice through the dimly lit room
an angled pattern of light and dark,
like the many rails of a fence,
spreads across the floor and
up the wall as the sun
falls hurriedly toward the horizon

Tiny particles of dust float
aimlessly on unseen currents
disappearing, then reappearing
as they weave their way
through the light and shadow
it’s silent, save the purring of the cat
curled up in the sun’s warming beams

And your slow, rhythmic breathing
as you doze next to me,
my lap a pillow for your head
paper rustles as my fingers
turn the pages of my book
before they return, absent-mindedly,
to twirling your hair

Stirring briefly, you breath in deeply and
release a long, satisfied sigh
though it’s seems
only a few minutes
hours have passed
and the sun’s beams, now golden,
grow long

I can’t help but think this is heaven
and to wish it never end
when the cat rises,
lets out an irritated meow,
and moves to follow
the waning warmth of
the dying sun